Have You Heard?
"So have you heard from Master Obi-Wan?"
Anakin sighed, pushing himself and the dolley from the underbelly of The Twilight to look at his padawan. "You asked me that four days ago - and what was my answer?"
"That was four days ago!" Ahsoka - seated on an empty cargo box - gave an over dramatic sigh. "I wanna know what's happening on Mandalore!"
"The media outlets aren't enough for you?"
"The media only shows what Duchess Kryze allows out of the Mandalore system -"
"Look Snips." Anakin glanced over when R2 held out an oil rag and smiled, and patted the droid's head before wiping his hands. "If something was really bad in the system we would hear rumors - people can't be quiet about anything for long. Besides," he gave a shrug, wondering how much Ahsoka had heard and deciding she needed to know regardless. "Master Kenobi is doing a legion rotation within the next few days. His personal command is staying in the system, but two legions are being sent back here. Five are staying on Mandalore - for now."
"What legion is being replacing them?" Ahsoka asked skeptically, though she felt like she knew the answer.
"Who do you think? 501st and 502nd."
"Are we heading to Mandalore then?" She glanced over her shoulder, waving when she saw Luminara and Barriss walking into the hangar.
"I dunno - the Council wanted us to head to Cato Neimoidia, but I'm not sure that'll happen."
Ahsoka shook her head. "Are you ever gonna tell me what happened on Cato Neimoidia?"
"Whatever it was, I am quite sure it involved gundarks."
Anakin laughed, looking at the approaching figures of Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee. "Obi-Wan does have a knack for finding gundark nests, Master Unduli - even on planets that don't have them."
Luminara gave a small smile, the corners of her eyes crinkling upwards. "I just received a ping from Master Windu - we're needed in the briefing room. Knights and masters only."
He glanced down at his oil covered tunics and gave a grimace before standing. "No time to change, hmm?"
"I am afraid not, Anakin. You will just have to act like it is all part of the plan."
"Hey come on - is this pay back for the worm thing on Geonosis? 'Cause I swear…"
Ahsoka smirked at the bickering masters, and dropped back by her friend's side. "How was the last mission?"
Barriss laced her hands behind her as they weaved through the hangar and into the brightly lit hallways. "Mmm - fine, I suppose. Not much to report...we're still at war, aren't we?"
"I guess…" Ahsoka rubbed at her arms, wondering why she suddenly felt cold in the hallways of the Temple. She looked on ahead, to where Ki-Adi-Mundi and Adi Gallia had joined their masters. "Just wanted to know if you're doing okay."
Barriss sighed, and stepped beside a pillar, fingers closing around Ahsoka's wrist while she tugged her to a stop. "I'm fine, Ahsoka - truly, I am. I'm just tired - I have barely slept in the past two weeks."
Ahsoka nearly flinched away from her friend's cold touch, wondering why Barriss was looking anywhere but her. In a different universe, she might have left the subject alone and convinced her friend to head to the cafeteria, but in this universe that was rapidly changing by the second?
Not happening.
"Barriss...what's wrong?" Ahsoka closed her hand over her friend's, surprised when she received a teary expression in return. "Barriss?"
Author's note: I wanted to put Ahsoka through hell but she's so precious and my heart can't handle pain right now xD
I do love this arc, despite how sad it is. But not to worry - my desperate need for happiness makes me unable to follow canon...well, at least in this fic ;D
ii Digestive Reader ii